Key Highlights of the Recently Introduced Safety Ratings for Commercial Vehicles

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is gearing up to introduce a safety assessment rating system for trucks and CVs, similar to the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP).

Air conditioning in driver compartments is now mandatory, and Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) are also being implemented to improve on-road safety.

The ministry plans to regulate truck drivers' working hours, currently extending to 13-14 hours daily, to ensure better working conditions and reduce fatigue-related accidents.

To address the shortage of skilled truck drivers, the government intends to establish 32 state-of-the-art driving institutes across the country, providing comprehensive training.

The government is also working on safety standards for battery-powered e-rickshaws to address existing safety concerns and increase employment opportunities.

Recently, the government has included road safety as a part of the school curriculum for students of classes 1 to 12, the module of which will be implemented in the current academic year.